tick
noun
a slight, sharp, recurring click, tap, or beat, as of a clock.
was ticking
-
past progressiveof tick.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The clock was ticking for Phillip Dressel to make a decision that could mean life-changing money.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 20, 2026
"This is where they got a little bit desperate as time was ticking down," said Williams.
From BBC ● Dec. 7, 2025
The sailors were taken into custody, but the clock was ticking: Officials in Canberra had decreed that barring the discovery of evidence that would allow extradition, they could hold the men for only 24 hours.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2025
The clock was ticking on that August day in 2022.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2024
An old-fashioned glass clock with a twelve-hour face was ticking away on the mantelpiece.
From "1984" by George Orwell
